My fabulous intern Sarah was nice enough to step in for me today. This wedding reception is accented with sand, sea shells, starfish and candles.

Again FANTASTIC Sarah to the resuce. This beautiful wedding used peonies picked from their garden.

This wedding was based off of feng shui, the ancient chinesse tradition of ulitlizing the laws of both heaven and earth. The Bride and Groom were married in Maui so the room also carrys a beach theme.

The war of the football teams. This wedding was between a Vikings fan and a Packers fan. A theme that carried through the event. Since the bride is the Vikings fan, she picked flowers that were Vikings purple and she wore a Vikings garter.

The war of the football teams. This wedding was between a Vikings fan and a Packers fan. A theme that carried through the event. Since the bride is the Vikings fan, she picked flowers that were Vikings purple and she wore a Vikings garter.

I found this article in the Canadian Press about easy ways to save money on your wedding. There are definitely items in this article I agree and disagree with in this. See my comments below in bold:

Easy money-saving ideas for any wedding

Looking for ways to save on your big day? Here are some easy tips:

-Be your own DJ. Creating your own iPod playlist for the evening saves cash and makes sure you won’t hear the “Funky Chicken” for the third time.

Quite honestly, I do not agree with this idea. Your entertainment is one of the most important parts of your reception. The DJ/Band is literally the life of the party. Imagine your dance without the lights, sound, action and most importantly the feeling.

If you need to save money this is one way, however I recommend letting this be a last resort.

-Make it a brunch or a cocktail party. If you want a cheaper menu, switch the time of day or stick to finger food. (Note that a buffet isn’t always cheaper than a sit-down meal.)

Brunch is one of my FAVORITE wedding reception ideas. I have one coming up that I am really excited about. The event starts out with butler passed mini-pancakes topped with blueberries, mini Monte Christos and pigs in a blanket. For Bruch they are starting with a mimosa pour, and then their guests will be dismissed to a full brunch buffet with made to order omelet station. For dessert they will offer their guest mini cheese cakes. Because of the time of day everything is less expensive including the food. This is a GREAT option that your guests will remember.

-Raise the bar. An open bar is a big expense, even though most guests will stick to champagne and wine. Instead, create a specialty cocktail or two and choose a mid-level wine. Try to work out a deal to return any wine your guests don’t drink.

I do agree with this. Also, doing a cash bar is not as much as a faux pas as it use to be and in many cases it can help you reach your food and beverage minimum.

-Use simple flowers. Maria McBride, author of “Party Basics for New Nesters,” suggests spreading an affordable flower like daisies or babies breath everywhere, creating foliage-only centrepieces, or putting small plants into an affordable clay or glazed pot. Or make your own vase out of recycled tin cans or wine bottles.

I agree with this. I had a wedding a few years back and the bride told me that she had told her florist that she only wanted to spend $10 per centerpiece. The florals were exquisite.

-Create your own centrepieces. Candles or fruit can save money and look pretty in batches. “Mass out votives everywhere, cluster them in groups of 10 – it enhances the mood and it offers the most affordable bang for the buck,” McBride says.

This is a fun idea. Never underestimate the power of cylinders with floating candles.

-Think rustic. Decor that looks cheap in a hotel ballroom can be charming in a backyard, farm or vineyard. Just pick a spot that specializes in special events or you’ll be saddled with unfortunate extras, like port-a-potties.

Ummm….port-a-potties?!?!?!?!

Go Martha!

I love this article. It gives some great, reasonable advice on planning a GREEN wedding. My favorite part is the blunt honesty about not having to have a hemp dress or a vegan dinner.

I was just recently invited to an organic/vegan organization that had samples of their products and you would NOT believe the price tag. Most venues’ dinner prices vary from $24-$38. Take that same meal and make it organic or vegan and you are looking at $45-75 per plate. Considering the current recession, not a lot of brides and grooms are going to be able to afford that.

If you really want a Green wedding you do not have to pay out the rump for it. Have all your stationary and guest book made of recycled paper, have favors that your guests will not throw away and that are good for the environment, like plants or seeds. Have your ceremony and reception at the same venue and if you donate to a charity (in lieu of a favor) do not print a card per place setting, instead print one per table or have a nice flyer by the guest book or just make an announcement. This way you will be doing something wonderful for your charity and the environment.

Check out this article for some great tips!

It’s a nice day for a green wedding

By Lauren Lipton

Martha Stewart Weddings

Fair-trade coffee beans are a thoughtful, environmentally friendly perk-me-up to give guests.

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something green? With the state of the planet on so many people’s minds, it’s not surprising that more couples are considering ways to make their wedding day more environmentally conscious.

But that doesn’t have to mean a hemp gown or vegan dinner. Now, brides and grooms can pick elements that work with their own style and the tone of their wedding.

“Every single choice, from the type of invitations you send to the flowers in your bouquet, can be Earth-friendly but very romantic and dreamy, too,” says Debi Lilly, of A Perfect Event in Chicago.

Here are a few of what we think are the best ideas on Earth for protecting the Earth.

MARRY BY DAY

Exchange vows outdoors, in the morning or afternoon. The sun replaces electric light, and if you choose a temperate time of year, you may also avoid the need for air-conditioning or heating.

At an evening wedding, consider keeping artificial light to a minimum. Instead, use softly glowing soy or beeswax candles, which, unlike those made of paraffin wax, come from renewable sources.

THINK SMALL

An intimate event requires fewer resources almost across the board. But even if you can’t cut your guest list, there are ways to reduce your consumption. Lilly suggests a cocktail reception, where revelers mix while nibbling hors d’oeuvres.

Since not everyone will sit down to eat at once, you can use fewer, smaller tables. The result: not as many tablecloths to launder, and more-compact, less-wasteful centerpieces. Your guests may have more fun, too.

“I can’t tell you how popular this style of reception is,” Lilly says. “It’s such a high-energy party.”

CUT DOWN ON PAPER

It’s still not easy to find a huge selection of nice invitations printed on recycled paper, especially formal ones. But there are other ways to save trees, says Emily Anderson, author of “Eco-Chic Weddings” (Hatherleigh Press, 2007).

When you register, make a note asking that gifts not be wrapped. Cut down on the unwanted catalogs and credit-card solicitations by asking the stores you register with not to share your address.

PAY IT BACK

Before her wedding, Denver bride Kim McLawhorn compensated for her guests’ expected fuel consumption by using Mapquest to determine about how many miles each person would be traveling. Then she bought carbon offsets from NativeEnergy, a Vermont company that uses these proceeds to fund cleaner, renewable-energy projects, such as wind farms.

GO LOCAL

Food and flowers grown nearby require less transportation – and thus fuel – and as a bonus are generally fresher. Use local vendors for other wedding services such as videography and music.

GIVE EARTH-FRIENDLY FAVORS

Skip the throwaway tchotchkes in lieu of a donation in guests’ names to an organization such as the World Wildlife Fund. Or, if you’d like your guests to go home with a small keepsake, try tiny potted herbs, tree seedlings in biodegradable containers or edible gifts such as fair-trade coffee or organic chocolate.

RECYCLE

Yes, you should ask your caterer to separate bottles and cans at the reception and to ferry the leftover food to a shelter. But there are so many other unexpected – and beautiful – ways to reuse items, says Anderson. You can wear your mother’s gown or a vintage dress, and you can repurpose your flowers.

Add some foliage to your ceremony arrangements for the reception, and consider donating your blooms. For example, an organization in New York City and Los Angeles called FlowerPowerFoundation.org will pick up your arrangements for a small contribution and deliver them to the sick and elderly.

Besides the feel-good bonus of re-gifting beautiful flowers and benefiting the environment, you may get a tax write-off. Check for similar charities in your area or call a nursing home for suggestions on how to donate.

Secrets of Saving Money on the Dress of Your Dreams

By now you have probably heard that the easiest way to save money on a dress is to buy it on Ebay or wear your mother’s wedding dress.

Now, I don’t know about you, but my mom had a pink, flowery dress that encompassed everything that was wrong with the 70’s, so this would not be an option for me.

However, through my experience, I have discovered the secret of owning the dress of your dreams…

What is it!?!!? You might be asking yourself…Well it is very simple. Bridal Shops need to carry a certain number of dresses. Every few months they need to clear out the old inventory to make room for the new. Now, they are not just going to throw these dresses away. They are going to continue to lower the price until it is sold. So, if you pay attention to the sales, you can save 50% or more on a contour wedding dress.

Also, be aware that Bridal Shops only carry a couple of sizes (typically 6 or so call the shops first to make sure they have dresses available in your size.